The "A" Travel Team in each Division is comprised of those players displaying the highest level of overall skill and competence and a commitment to play at the most competitive level in the Connecticut Hockey Conference (CHC) or Connecticut Girls Hockey League (CGHL). The "A" Travel Team emphasizes competition in conjunction with skill development. Equitable playing time is strongly encouraged and will be implemented over the course of the season, but equal playing time is not mandatory.

The Travel Teams Below the “A” Level (A1 and B) in each Division will emphasize skill development while allowing the player to compete at a level commensurate with his/her abilities. While equal playing time is ideal, equitable playing time is the pronounced goal at this level and will be implemented over the course of the season, giving due consideration to the developmental needs of individual players and the Head Coach’s determination of the needs of the team.

Goalies on House or Limited Travel Teams (Mite U6/U8, Squirt U10, Girls U10, PeeWee U12) – Interested players will rotate when goalie play is introduced. Coaches will use discretion to encourage the rotation of all players to play in the goalie position during practices and games.

Goalies on Travel Teams (Squirt U10, PeeWee U12, Bantam U14, Girls U12/U14, Midget U18) – The number of goalies in a Division will determine the goalie count on a particular team. Two or more goalies may be assigned to a team. In this scenario, equitable playing time is strongly encouraged and will be implemented over the course of the season, but equal playing time is not mandatory.

Those players (skaters and goalies) who desire to compete on a Travel Team (A, A1 or B) should understand the playing time policies above. Head Coaches are the final authority on what constitutes equitable playing time and players must agree to abide by this policy if selected.

GOALIE / SKATER POSITION ROTATION

It is the position of SYHA that all players who tryout and are placed on travel team as either a skater or goalie will hold that respective position for the entire season. As a general standard, Goalies should not expect to ‘skate out’ (play forward) in games during the season.

SYHA provides Goalie and Skater Skills Clinics for Developmental, Intermediate and Advanced Levels. Clinics will be offered throughout the season.

Skaters that demonstrate interest in trying the Goalie position are encouraged to participate in scheduled SYHA Goalie Skills Clinics to further develop his/her goalie skills.

Goalies that demonstrate interest in a forward position are encouraged to participate in SYHA Skater Clinics to further develop his / her skating skills.

SYHA recognizes that periodically there may be scenarios in which a goalie / skater rotation is appropriate or necessary. Head Coaches may use discretion to rotate a goalie / skater throughout the season for reasons such as, but not limited to, absence, illness, or other reasons as deemed reasonable by the Head Coach.

At the discretion of the Head Coach, exceptions to grant a long term goalie / skater rotation (i.e., a more regular or permanent net sharing arrangement) must be presented to the Division Director, who will then share the request for exception with the President, Vice President of Operations, Vice President of Policy and Director of Coaching for final approval.